Are you struggling to keep track of multiple debt payments? Managing the balances, due dates and required minimum payments for multiple credit cards, auto loans, personal loans or any other kind of debt can be extremely difficult. Thankfully, debt consolidation can turn these confusing payments into one, easy-to-manage payment. But what is debt consolidation? Find
Personal Finance
If you want to unlock maximized investment returns on your bank account and other financial vehicles, understanding APY is vital. This powerful metric allows investors to compare opportunities and assess long-term growth potential. By calculating APY, you can make informed decisions about allocating your funds and watch your profits soar. Here’s a guide to the
Who doesn’t need the occasional break from their daily grind? Vacations are a great way to get away from it all, travel and explore. And unless your idea of a vacation is watching The Great British Bake Off from your couch for a week (technically a staycation) – traveling can get real pricey real quick.
A trust fund is a financial tool where an individual can store assets for the benefit of another person or organization. If you’re in the process of planning your estate, you might be considering a trust fund to secure your family’s financial needs. They might be a popular option, but few people know all the
It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. Investing in an individual retirement account (IRA) is a great way to save for the future. However, there are limits to how much you can contribute to these accounts each year. Keep reading to learn more about how IRA contribution limits work. 2022 Roth IRA Contribution
The holiday season is right around the corner. Many of us are looking forward to spending time with loved ones, recreating annual traditions, gift giving (and gift receiving), and indulging in the season’s foods, desserts, and pumpkin spice everything (we see you, #TeamPSL). So many of us get wrapped up in the “reason(s) for the
An investment portfolio is a term that comes up quickly in any conversation about investing. The word “portfolio” comes from the Latin word “portafoglio,” which is a case for carrying loose papers.[1] Before the internet, it was common for brokers to keep track of their clients’ investments in separate notebooks or binders (aka portfolios). These
You know saving money for retirement is crucial. You know your quality of life during retirement will depend on your retirement savings. But do you know which retirement account will best suit your needs? Should you pick a 401(k) or an IRA (aka individual retirement account)? There is no right or wrong answer. Truth is,
You’d have to be living under a rock not to notice cryptocurrency’s recent rise in popularity. Many curious and aspiring entrepreneurs have made fortunes in Bitcoin, Ethereum and other forms of digital currency – and many others have followed them, hoping to turn a quick profit. In turn, fraudsters have swooped in to take advantage
Stocks, or equities, are shares of ownership in a company. Investing in the stock market by purchasing these shares can be a great way to grow your money for the future. But how much money you make – or lose – largely depends on the stocks you pick. So how do you know which stocks
What Is American Express? American Express is one of the oldest and most widely recognized credit card companies, acting as both a network and a card issuer. It has a long history of serving consumers and businesses alike. Today it offers some of the best credit cards on the market, whether you’re new to credit
When the prices of goods and services go up, it can be hard to know where to invest your money. Even the interest rates on high-yield savings accounts don’t usually keep pace with inflation. Stocks and other investments can offer greater returns – but they are riskier. If you’re looking for a place to invest
Being in over your head in debt is stressful (to say the least). It can be a hurdle that keeps you from reaching financial goals or achieving certain milestones (think: homeownership, marriage, school or a robust retirement fund). Fortunately, you have time-tested debt repayment strategies at your disposal to reduce, manage – and maybe even
When it comes to investing, there are many different options to pursue, from stocks and bonds to commodities and mutual funds to real estate investment trusts and more. The options are endless – and often confusing. But any investment professional worth their fees will let you know the importance of diversifying your portfolio with a
Ahh debt! It’s something we all try to avoid and end up with anyway. But did you know there’s such a thing as bad debt and good debt? Taking on good debt could help you build generational wealth. While bad debt can end up costing you more for things that won’t bring you any value
Luxury Card’s name is about as on-the-nose as it gets. It’s an international credit card company that specializes in luxury credit cards noted more for their high-class reputation and distinctive design elements, which include sleek aesthetics and sturdy metal construction, than their rewards. Technically, its cards are issued by Barclays, but Luxury Card calls the
Capital One Spark is Capital One’s line of small business credit cards. There are five Spark cards in total. Four are designed for large or small business owners with excellent credit scores, with a fifth designed for people with fair or average credit. Although some of them are made for excellent credit, you may still
American Express offers a wide variety of small business cards for people with excellent credit. Chances are there’s an American Express business card that will work to earn rewards on the money your business is already spending, whether you want to earn travel rewards or cash back. Many of these cards earn Membership Rewards points,
There are always different levels of risk in life. It’s all about how much you’re willing to take and whether the rewards outweigh the risks. When it comes to investing, you may be faced with a similar question: What’s your comfort level when it comes to the possibility of losing money? This is referred to
In an age of digital payments and mobile wallets, writing out a paper check, balancing a checkbook and even cashing a check can seem archaic. But even though the use of paper checks has declined over the last 20+ years, it’s still helpful to know the ins and outs of this “old school” way of
What’s worse than paying taxes? Being the recipient of a tax lien. The government can put a tax lien on your property if you fail to pay your taxes, allowing them to legally seize your assets – including your home. The good news is that since 2018, federal and state tax liens no longer appear
There are many numbers involved when it comes to loan terms and savings accounts, like interest rate, annual percentage rate and annual percentage yield. But interest is more than just a number. Knowing if it’s simple interest or compound interest can help you make better financial decisions – whether you’re saving, investing or borrowing. Compound
Life is full of surprises. Sometimes we get lucky and hit the lottery. Other times we have bad luck: we lose our job, we get into an accident or our home is damaged. When bad luck happens, it often gets expensive quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to have an emergency fund. If you
Ever wonder where your money is going? A monthly budget might provide an answer. A budget is a blueprint of your income and expenses. It can help you to reach your financial goals and take control of your finances by tracking how you spend – and save. You don’t have to be a finance whiz
Considering getting new furniture? Maybe your morning coffee just slid off your tilted kitchen table. Or there’s a constellation of stains on your living room couch. Or you’re planning to move and can’t imagine taking the hand-me-down furniture you have in your current place. Furniture is one of those big-ticket items we tend to keep
Rent day. It may be your least favorite time of the month. And you may have wondered: Can I at least pay rent with a credit card – and earn credit card rewards? The answer is yes. The answer to whether it’s worth it? Well, that’s a little more complicated. The best reason to pay
You don’t always need a credit card to build credit. While it is one of the easiest ways, it isn’t the only way. If, like most people, you’ve amassed any kind of debt, you can have that work in your favor. The key to good credit, no matter the type of debt, is to pay
Credit cards have, somewhat unfairly, developed a reputation as an easy way to pay for something when you may not have the money to do it upfront. In reality, they’re so much more than that when you use them right and they come with many benefits. So, we’ve put together a guide that’ll detail what
There’s no question that paying your bills on time is the most important rule to follow when it comes to earning great credit. Yet even a flawless payment history won’t result in the perfect credit score. Believe it or not, 65% of your FICO® Score has nothing to do with whether you make your monthly
Cars are expensive. Ordinarily, they’re expensive enough that consumers resort to loans to pay them off over time. Particularly ambitious buyers, however, may pay for their cars with cash, so they own them from the get-go and avoid going into debt. But somewhere in between those crowds are the folks who buy cars with credit